Periodontitis is a disease that many want to learn about. Please note this is a brief overview.

Periodontal Disease occurs when inflammatory diseases affect the gums and tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. If periodontitis is not treated in the proper time and manner, infections around the teeth can occur that will lead to erosion of teeth/tooth.

Gingivitis is a disease that occurs prior to Periodontitis. Once bacteria starts to form and grow on the surface of the tooth, (Plaque begins to extend below your gumline) your body’s immune system will begin to resist the bacteria.

There are some risk factors for Periodontal Disease.

Smoking. Another reason to think about quitting! Smoking is a noteworthy factor that is associated with the development of periodontal diseases. Typically, smoking can lower the prospects of successful treatments.

Diabetes. If have diabetes you maybe develop infections at a higher risk, this also includes periodontal disease.

Medications. Antidepressants and some heart medicines are some drugs that, can affect oral health because they decrease the flow of saliva. (It is important to note that Saliva has a protective effect on gums and teeth.)

Stress. Research conveys that stress can increase the difficulty for our bodies to fight tooth infections, this also includes periodontal disease.

Illnesses. Diseases and their treatments can also have an affect on the health of gums.

There are other factors and more information about periodontal disease, as noted above this is a brief overview. BioDental Healing would love to help answer any questions you have about dentistry, we are committed to providing the Newbury Park community with information and support about all dental procedures.

It sounds bizarre and perhaps borderline insane, but charcoal actually has the possibility of whitening teeth. Here’s the catch: it’s not the charcoal you may be thinking of, it’s called activated charcoal – a specific kind of charcoal that has been “activated” by the usage of certain gasses. These gasses make the charcoal pure and safe to use in our mouths.

Understand that the charcoal used in barbecues is different from the activated charcoal that we’re talking about in this article. This means that you shouldn’t grab a few charcoal briquettes and place them into your mouth (we’re hoping no one has ever done this!).

Activated charcoal works naturally through a process known as adsorption. Adsorption works like a magnet – in that it draws, or magnetizes, materials away from your teeth and onto the activated charcoal. Specifically, it draws away the tannins that have formed on your teeth from years of staining.

How Can You Use Activated Charcoal?

You can sprinkle activated charcoal into toothpaste or create a tooth powder or you can mix up a charcoal slurry which is created by mixing a small amount of powder with a small amount of water.

You can also hold it in your mouth against the front teeth for a few minutes after you have brushed your teeth.

You can purchase activated charcoal in bulk and use it in powder form or the slurry method described above. This is not always possible and sometimes it is difficult to find charcoal powder, so you can also purchase it in capsules or in tablets.

The capsules can be opened up and poured into water and the tablets can be crushed into a powder. Activated charcoal tablets are widely available at drug stores and health food stores near you.

How Does Activated Charcoal Work?

This is how activated charcoal works – it draws the impurities out of something and adsorbs them.

Adsorbtion differs from absorption in that it draws materials to it similar to a magnet, and holding those materials inside pores. The area where the charcoal has been used is left clean.

Using activated charcoal can be an effective way to whiten teeth because it draws tannins and removes them from teeth.

Tannins are the ingredient in food that stain your tooth enamel and cause your teeth to look dingy.

The effect of charcoal in the mouth is that it makes your whole mouth black and nasty looking, but it really does do a great job of cleaning up your teeth and removing impurities.

Most of us are aware that medications we take come with side effects. However, most of us are probably unaware that the medications we take may also be interfering with our oral health.

Oral Side Effects of Certain Medications

Saliva Production Decrease

Many medications have the potential to decrease the amount of saliva our body naturally produces in order to fight bacteria. This makes your teeth vulnerable to decay if you do not respond to the matter.

These medications include:

Antihistamines used for allergies (i.e. Claritin)

Decongestants (i.e. Sudafed)

Painkillers (i.e. Advil or ibuprofen)

Diuretics (i.e. high blood pressure medication)

Sores and Inflammation Inside the Mouth

If you take one of these types of medications, then you may be prone to experiencing sores or other sources of inflammation in the mouth:

High blood pressure pills

Immunosuppressive medication

Contraceptives

White Spots in the Mouth

If you have asthma and use an inhaler to keep your airways open, then pay attention to fungal infections known as thrush. It causes white spots in the mouth that are painful. It is advised to rinse the mouth out after using your inhaler.

Unusual Bleeding During Procedures

This is not a direct effect, but certain blood thinner medications have the potential to cause heavy bleeding during dental procedures such as root planning, gum surgery, tooth extractions, or other procedures that cause bleeding.

Consistently Updating Your Dentist

Of course it’s important to brush and floss your teeth every day and night, but you should also update your dentist of any new medications you are on every time you see them. This way adjustments and prescriptions may be made without jeopardizing your health.

An eight-part course that will either positively change, or save your life!

Starting Monday September 11th.

Are you feeling energetic, alive and alert?

Has your health been optimal and vibrant?

If not, there’s a possibility that you may be unconsciously sabotaging your well-being. Our Healthy Mind, Healthy Body class is an eight-part course that will either positively change, or save your life!

We feel that information equals power, and information about self is empowerment. Are you feeling empowered in and with your body?

If not, then maybe more cutting-edge information about this vehicle that carries you around is in order.

We are living in a different world than the one many of us baby boomers were raised in. Now there are more things that we should or should not be doing that are influencing how much energy we have, and our ability to fight off disease. If our system is compromised, we feel the effects of illness. What if there were basic things that you could do that would change all that?

This class is designed to give you the information that’s needed to make the educated decisions to own your optimal health.

This course will identify by body part, how our thoughts, feelings and actions can create illness. We will share and focus how to heal with new habits, constructive thinking, and effective power statements that will create greater health and vitality.

These classes are formatted in easy to understand language for everyone who attends. You will receive an extensive handout that coincides with the classroom power point presentation. Our goal is to make this interesting, and fun, while still being informative.

Each week we are bringing in the experts to share their knowledge and expertise. You’ll know more about how your body works than ever before, and during the eight weeks we will be so excited to watch you gain the energy and enthusiasm for life that you were born with.

Have you ever woken up in the morning and realized you’ve got bad-smelling breath? Do you find that you sometimes have trouble making it go away? For many people, morning breath isn’t just an unfortunate side effect of a good night’s sleep. Chronic bad breath can last throughout the day and leave your friends and loved ones covering their noses. It can be an embarrassing topic for those who suffer from it.

Bad breath can be caused by several different factors, but the most common one is a buildup of bacteria in the mouth.

What Causes Halitosis?

We all know that eating certain foods like garlic and onions causes bad breath, but did you know there are other more serious causes? Some illnesses may also cause bad breath. Some of these illnesses include: pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, liver or kidney problems. Medication can also cause bad breath. Most halitosis is caused by gasses secreted by bacteria in the mouth. If a medicine is causing the problem, then discuss possible alternative medications with your doctor and/or dentist.

Prevent Halitosis

The good news is that you can prevent bad breath by practicing good oral hygiene. Brush three times a day with toothpaste. Also, brush your teeth after you eat. Flossing once a day is recommended by the American Dental Association to avoid plaque buildup. Getting rid of debris like plaque can significantly benefit your oral health, and in turn, the smell of your breath. For more information on oral health, good hygiene habits, or to schedule an appointment with a dentist who can help, call 805-375-2233.

Perhaps you’ve read on your very own toothpaste: “Tartar control” or “Reduces plaque”. We’re betting you looked at this and subconsciously concluded that it sounded like a positive benefit. We’re also betting that you had no idea as to what these terms even meant (if you did then brownie points for you!).

Surprisingly, plaque and tartar are very similar in a couple of ways:

They both form on your teeth through a chemical reaction that takes place inside of your mouth when you begin to break down food and

Unfortunately for us, they both are comprised of bacteria that happen to be harmful to our teeth and gums.

So Exactly What is Dental Plaque and Tartar?

Well, dental plaque is actually a colorless film that sticks, or adheres, to our teeth. It develops on our teeth throughout the day as we break down food. Because it’s colorless, the naked eye cannot detect it.

The good news is that plaque does not terribly threaten our oral health as long as we maintain a steady routine of brushing and flossing.

When we do not keep up with our oral hygiene routine, then plaque that has been resting on your teeth will eventually become a hardened solid that is known as tartar (some may also refer to it as calculus – they refer to the same thing). Tartar becomes troublesome because once formed, a toothbrush cannot remove it. Toothpastes that claim “tartar control” do not help remove tartar, they help prevent tartar formation.

A Never Ending War

Picture the whole idea behind plaque and tartar as a war. On one side we have you and your army of toothbrushes and dental floss with plaque/tartar and their army of bacteria on the other side. It’s a battle that never ends – it takes place every single day. The best thing you can do is keep your enemy at bay (in this case keeping plaque at bay).

Now, when you visit your dentist every 6 months you begin to really shove the enemy back. This is because your dentist is able to provide you with a professional cleaning that not only wipes out any plaque on your teeth, but also removes any tartar as well.

Fight the battle, win the war – make sure you brush and floss your teeth every day so that you do not fall victim to more serious problems such as gum disease, gingivitis, or bone loss.

Dr. David Villarreal is a top rated dentist in Conejo Valley popularly known for providing biological dentistry with a touch of class and warmth.

What is Biological Dentistry?

Biological dentistry is an alternative approach do dentistry that focuses not only on your oral health but your overall health. Biological dentistry aims to emphasize the interconnection between your oral health and overall health. Its focus is to eliminate infections, use biocompatible restorative materials as well as to promote an optimal structural relationship between your teeth, jaw, neck, and head. For this reasons, Dr. Villarreal provides Amalgam Filling Removal to eliminate tooth decay.

What does a biological dentist do?

A biological dentist examines all parts of your body as connected and believes there’s a link between your oral health and your overall health. Not only does a biological dentist look at your teeth and gums, he also examines the body attached to the teeth and gums. This is exactly what we do here at BioDental Healing.

We believe that your oral cavity health is critically important to your overall health and wellness. At our consultations, we examine factors that are closely related to your oral health such as breathing, nutrition, posture, and sleep.

Since the mouth is the gateway to the respiratory tract, we examine your mouth closely for common infections like tooth decay and gum disease. Once we’ve determined that you have an infection, we look at reasons behind it or why it occurred in the first place. From there we provide you with a comprehensive dental care and treatment. This is what biological dentistry is all about.

Best Dentist Conejo Valley- Dr. David Villarreal

A certified biologist dentist in Conejo Valley, Dr. David Villarreal is the best dentist in Newbury Park offering a dedicated, safe and comprehensive approach to natural dental care. Dr. Villarreal is renowned as the best Thousand Oaks family dentist because of his committed approach to biological dentistry for his patients. He recognizes the link between oral health and that of the entire body. Toxic materials and infections inside the mouth can spread throughout your entire body pretty fast.

Request an Appointment

Come to BioDental Healing for a high quality biological dental care in Conejo Valley. We also provide biological dentistry across Ventura County including Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Simi Valley.

Did you know that humans have four types of teeth in the mouth? You probably didn’t because most people are only familiar with two types: molars and canines. However, there are actually two other types as well.

Teeth are very important for our well-being, which is why dentists put so much effort in educating you on your teeth. In short, they matter! We know, you hate hearing how much more you should be brushing and flossing, but it’s only to your benefit. And it’s a dentist’s duty to educate their patients.

Without further ado, we’d like to educate you on the four types of teeth humans have in their mouth. And if you don’t have these, well… you may want to look into dental implants as a replacement!

Four Types of Teeth and the Function They Serve

Canines

These are generally very easy to pick up on, unless you’ve gone through orthodontic treatment (i.e. braces). Humans have 2 canine teeth on the top set of teeth and the bottom. They look sharp because they are pointy. The biological reason for this is because these are the teeth used to tear food apart.

Molars

For analogy sake, we can refer to the molars as big daddy. Adult humans have a total of 8 molars, 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. They are the largest teeth in the mouth and are responsible for crushing food hard enough to allow for swallowing. Molars work in combination with your tongue at the back of your mouth.

We’d like to mention that wisdom teeth, which grow in at later ages, are also considered molars. They have the same function as well except are not always suitable for our mouths, which is why many dentists recommend removing them to prevent issues.

Incisors

Your “two front teeth” happen to be incisors, as well as the couple of teeth adjacent to them. Humans have 8 incisors, 4 on the top and the bottom. These are the smallest of our teeth, but feature sharp ends. Canines are sharper, but the sharpness of incisors makes them suitable for cutting food.

Premolars

These are the set of teeth that most people do not realize exist. Premolars are located in between the molars and the canine teeth. Most classify these as molars, but that is technically incorrect. They are not as large as molars, but are shaped like molars with ridges to allow for grinding food more effectively.

Amalgam fillings, also known as silver fillings, are fairly common. Most people with amalgam fillings are opting to have filling removal. Amalgam fillings are not only unsightly, they can be dangerous. They were considered a technological breakthrough in the early 1900’s, but today we know that the materials they are composed of are toxic. Most of the time, amalgam fillings are made with mercury. Mercury, when introduced to the blood stream, can have a negative effect on your body over the long run.

It is important that when you remove your amalgam fillings, you choose a dentist that can perform the procedure without extra exposure to the mercury in the fillings. When drilling to remove the fillings, the resulting dust will carry mercury, so taking the precaution to reduce any contact with the mouth or skin is just as important as having the fillings removed.

When removing amalgam fillings, they are usually replaced with composite bonding. Composite fillings are a great alternative because they can be matched to the color of your teeth, and they are made of synthetic resin. These fillings are safe and will not release the toxic vapors inherent to amalgam fillings.

Our Mission

We believe our job is to help you achieve your best physical, dental and emotional health as safely as possible and in as short a time period as possible. We offer conscious sedation and auxiliary treatments as part of our protocol to help achieve your optimal health.